Tigers Outscore Mets 15-7 To Win Series

By Associated Press&nbsp|&nbsp

Posted: Mon 12:02 AM, Jun 11, 2007

DETROIT (AP) -- Tom Glavine had one of the worst outings of his stellar career against baseball's highest-scoring team. Gary Sheffield contributed to Glavine's rough day with a homer and an RBI triple Sunday, helping the Detroit Tigers beat up the New York Mets 15-7 and win the series. Glavine (5-4) gave up nine earned runs for just the second time, matching the career-high total he allowed eight years ago. Sheffield said it was an uncharacteristic performance from Glavine, who he faced 55 times previously, but fell short of saying Detroit was lucky. "It's not a fluke," he said. "We're a good team, also." Brandon Inge had a career-best five RBIs, helping the Tigers score six runs in the fifth inning and four in the eighth, to surpass their previous season high of 14 runs. Detroit leads the majors with 374 runs, an average of just over six per game. Manager Jim Leyland, however, is unhappy that his shaky bullpen is leading to softball-like scores for the defending AL champions. "We have to win games 5-3 and 3-2 like we did last year," Leyland said. "If we don't, we won't be anywhere to be found later on." In a matchup of an all-time great left-hander and a promising lefty going for win No. 2, the pitcher with 295 career wins had a day he'd like to forget. "I'm getting tired of talking about the whole 300 win thing," Glavine said. "Everybody thinks that's all I'm thinking about and it's not." Clearly, Glavine probably has other things on his mind. Glavine gave up a season-high 11 hits and lasted just 4 1-3 innings -- his shortest outing of the season -- and is 0-3 over his last four starts after beginning the year 5-1. "He threw the ball well. He felt pretty good, but Tommy didn't locate his pitches," Mets manager Willie Randolph said. "You have to make sure you make good pitches against the Tigers." The only other time Glavine gave up nine earned runs was May 24, 1999, for Atlanta against the Milwaukee Brewers, and he allowed nine runs total in two other games. "It was one of those days where no matter what you tried to do, or whatever adjustments you tries to make, it didn't work," Glavine said. Andrew Miller (2-0) allowed a three-run homer to David Wright in the first inning before settling down -- finishing with four runs allowed, five hits and three walks over 5 1-3 innings. A year after being drafted sixth overall, Miller made his second start in the majors. "It's like a movie script," he said. "You wouldn't believe it if somebody told you, but I'm here and I think it's real. You couldn't dream it up better than this." Leyland was not surprised to see the 22-year-old Miller pitch out of some jams. "Like I used to say about Doc Gooden, it's pretty easy to be poised when you've got that kind of talent," he said. Miller left the game with one on, one out and a seven-run lead in the sixth and the cushion quickly was cut after Jason Grilli replaced him. Grilli gave up three straight hits -- including rookie Carlos Gomez's first homer -- and was replaced after hitting the fourth Met he faced without getting an out. Tim Byrdak got out of the two-on, one-out jam with a strikeout and flyout. Leyland planned to travel to watch Kenny Rogers throw for Triple-A Toledo on Sunday night in a rehabilitation start and promised other pitchers would be evaluated as candidates to possibly replace relievers later this season. "They've all shown they can do it and they've all shown they can't do it," he said. "These aren't threats to anybody because we don't have any intention on making a move right now. But at some point, we have to have a better idea what's coming out of there on a consistent basis. "If we don't, then you look to make changes. It's that simple."

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